It's the properties of polymers, certain kinds of large molecules, that make these products bouncy, slimy, stretchy, breakable, hard, soft, sticky, moldableâand just plain fun to play with. Polymers are found in a variety of materials that have a broad range of properties.
As most dentists recommend, the best way to prevent a cavity is by brushing one's teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing and rinsing with an oral rinse. As the tooth begins to decay more severely, there are several treatments that a dentist can use to attempt to repair the tooth.
A filling is a material that your dentist uses to fill a cavity after he or she removes any tooth decay. To fill a tooth, your dentist will: 1  Numb your teeth, gums, tongue, and surrounding skin.2  Sometimes use a small sheet of rubber on a metal frame (rubber dam) to target the decayed tooth and to stop liquid and tooth chips from entering your mouth and throat. 3  Drill out all the decay and replace it with a filling.o fill a tooth, your dentist will: 1  Numb your teeth, gums, tongue, and surrounding skin. 2  Your dentist will first put a substance that feels like jelly directly on the area to start the numbing process, and then inject an anesthetic to complete it.